Events

June 29 @ 1:00 pm

English Lawn Bowling Tips

Sports Club, Lawn Bowling Green

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August 16 @ 12:00 pm Week Eight (August 15–22)

Week Eight: Reimagined Food Festival

Varies View Details

Sunday, August 16th 2026 - Saturday, August 22nd 2026
@ 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm

How To Access This Event Event Price

Price: Varies

Online

There is no online version of this program.

Week Eight: Reimagined Food Festival

Savor a week of elevated culinary experiences with our reimagined Food Festival. With only 80 packages per week, enjoy intimate moments across the grounds, from two Masters Series classes and five Bestor Plaza demos to a lively Weekly Feast of Friends. Your package also includes a Premium Chef’s Dinner, family‑friendly Feast on Film, a Craft Beverage Tasting and the flavor‑packed Taste Caravan featuring five lunches and two dinners. Cap your experience off with the high‑energy Battle of the Bites and the celebratory Taste of Chautauqua.

Package includes:
2 Master Series Classes
Sunday Feast with Friends Ticket
1 Premium Chef’s Dinner
Feast on Film Event
1 Premium Craft Beverage Tasting Event
Experience Taste Caravan
Battle of the Bites Tasting Event
Taste of Chautauqua

Plus, a limited merch package, $50 in food truck tickets for the taste caravan and a popcorn and soda for Feast on Film.

Package price: $505

Only 80 packages are available each week. Purchase by calling 716-357-6250.

*Packages available for week’s eight & nine. Packages do not provide standalone access to Chautauqua’s grounds and must be purchased in addition to your gate passes.

August 18 @ 7:45 am Week Eight (August 15–22)

CHQ Mystic Heart - Larry Terkel, Judaism/ Kabbalah Meditation

Presbyterian House

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August 18 @ 9:15 am

The Rev. Natalie Hanson

Amphitheater | CHQ Assembly

View Details

Tuesday, August 18th 2026 @ 9:15 am

Amphitheater &

Online

How To Access This Event Gate Pass Holder

Access to this event is included with the Gate Pass.

Single Tickets

Price: free

Online

View this event on Chautauqua Institution's YouTube paid membership channel.

Register/Sign-up

The Rev. Natalie Hanson

The Rev. Natalie Hanson has been a longtime presence at Chautauqua; with her husband, the Rev. James Paul Womack, pastor of Hurlbut Memorial Community United Methodist Church, she has co-hosted the United Methodist Missionary Vacation Home at Chautauqua for several years. Hanson has also served Chautauqua as interim senior pastor in 2022, crafting, planning and evaluating worship services alongside members of the Department of Religion.

She is a clergy member of the United Methodist Church, now retired after 40 years of ministry. Much of that ministry was focused in urban parishes, with eight years serving as a District Superintendent in the Western, then Upper New York Annual Conference. On behalf of the Conference and as an adjunct for Wesley Seminary’s Course of Study, Hanson for several years taught classes on preaching and worship development. She was also Co-Convener and worship developer for the NE Jurisdiction’s Clergywomen’s Convocation. Hanson was educated at Wesleyan University and the Harvard Divinity School.

This program is made possible by Week One Presenting Sponsor Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, AHN Westfield Memorial, and HealthNow Administrative Services. This program is also made possible by the generous support of The Samuel M. and Mary E. Hazlett Memorial Fund..

August 18 @ 9:15 am Week Eight (August 15–22)

Chautauqua Science Group: George Carlo

Hurlbut Church sanctuary

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August 18 @ 10:15 am

Service of Blessing and Healing

Randell Chapel, UCC Headquarters

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August 18 @ 10:45 am Week Eight (August 15–22)

Nyesha Arrington

Amphitheater | CHQ Assembly

$40 View Details

Tuesday, August 18th 2026 @ 10:45 am

Amphitheater &

Online

How To Access This Event Gate Pass Holder

Access to this event is included with the Gate Pass.

Single Tickets

Price: $40

Purchase Single Tickets Online

View this event on Chautauqua Institution's YouTube paid membership channel.

Register/Sign-up

Nyesha Arrington

Nyesha Arrington is the dynamic co-star of FOX’s hit culinary competition series “Next Level Chef,” where she brings her signature blend of mentorship, humor and fierce expertise to millions of viewers each season. She also hosts and produces the acclaimed digital series “Plateworthy” for Eater, celebrating the craft, culture and creative spirit of cooking. Drawing inspiration from the seasons, global travel and contemporary art, Arrington’s cooking is a soulful fusion of heritage, curiosity and California expression, a style uniquely her own. Beyond the kitchen, she is deeply passionate about functional fitness, wellness and building community through intention and storytelling. These passions will inspire Arrington’s Chautauqua Lecture Series remarks, which serve as the centerpiece of her multiday Chautauqua residency during Week Eight, “The Future of Food: Climate, Technology and the Next Agricultural Revolution.” Beyond the Amphitheater stage, she will bring her cutting-edge cooking skills, experience and expertise to other food-centered engagements as part of the 2026 Chautauqua Food Festival.

A fan favorite since her breakout season on “Top Chef,” Arrington has become one of the industry’s most recognizable and respected voices. Her television credits span “MasterChef,” “Tournament of Champions,” “Guy’s Grocery Games,” “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” and “Next Level Chef U.K.,” showcasing her versatility, creativity and leadership across multiple platforms.

Arrington began her culinary journey in Michelin-starred kitchens, including Mélisse in Santa Monica, California, as well as L’Atelier and The Mansion in Las Vegas. She went on to make her mark on the Los Angeles dining landscape with her restaurants Leona and Native by Arrington, earning national recognition for her commitment to farm-fresh, local and ethically sourced ingredients. Her work has landed her on Zagat’s 30 Under 30, Eater’s LA Chef of the Year and countless lists celebrating chefs shaping the future of food.

A true multi-hyphenate creative, Arrington is expanding her voice across media, lifestyle, philanthropy and product design, championing representation and empowerment in every space she inhabits.

This program is made possible by Week Eight Presenting Sponsor Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, AHN Westfield Memorial, and HealthNow Administrative Services. This program is also sponsored by The G. Thomas and Kathleen Harrick Lectureship Endowment and The Lewis Miller Memorial Fund.

August 18 @ 11:30 am Week Eight (August 15–22)

Taste Caravan

Bestor Plaza

View Details

Tuesday, August 18th 2026 @ 11:30 am

Bestor Plaza

How To Access This Event Gate Pass Holder

Access to this event is included with the Gate Pass.

Single Tickets

Price: Gate pass or single ticket required

Online

There is no online version of this program.

Taste Caravan

A moving feast of regional flavor. Taste Caravan transforms Bestor Plaza into a rotating showcase of the area’s most exciting restaurants and food trucks, offering guests the opportunity to sample 15–20 different regional establishments each week through thoughtfully prepared small bites.

Food trucks will be available:

Monday–Friday, 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (Lunch)

Tuesday & Friday, 4:30–8:00 p.m. (Dinner)

Vendors rotate throughout the week, and all offer small bites so guests are encouraged to return often so they can explore the wide range of cuisines, cooking styles, flavors and culinary voices—all in one vibrant, walkable destination located just outside the Amphitheater in Bestor Plaza.

During each Taste Caravan lunch service, guests can enjoy a live culinary demonstration or discussion in the plaza, creating an immersive experience where learning, conversation, and flavor come together. Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite or lingering to sample multiple offerings, Taste Caravan invites you to taste broadly, learn deeply, and celebrate the diversity of our regional food community.

Food/Drink Tickets:

All food vendors only accept Food Festival tickets for payment. The Athenaeum Hotel Beverage Tent & Lounge will accept tickets, cash or card. Tickets can be purchased from one of the two information and ticket tents located within steps of the food vendors.

5 Pack of Tickets: $10

Food Vendor’s
Venus Greek and Mediterranean
Cheesy Chick
Best of Buffalo by Byron
Over The Rainbow
Arly and Izzy’s
U Take the Cake
Mystic Smoke BBQ
Hope Smoothie

August 18 @ 12:30 pm Week Eight (August 15–22)

Food: The Ultimate Climate Change Messenger Michael Hoffman, Cornell University

Smith Wilkes Hall

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Food: The Ultimate Climate Change Messenger
Michael Hoffman, Cornell University

Tuesday, August 18th 2026 @ 12:30 pm

Smith Wilkes Hall

How To Access This Event Gate Pass Holder

A single ticket purchase is required for this event.

Single Tickets

Price: Gate pass or single ticket required

Online

There is no online version of this program.

Food: The Ultimate Climate Change Messenger Michael Hoffman, Cornell University

Bird, Tree & Garden Club lunchtime lecture series

Michael Hoffmann is Professor Emeritus, Department of Entomology, at Cornell University, where he maintained an active research and extension program focused on integrated pest management and biological control. His publication record includes 105 refereed journal articles, nine book chapters, and three books.

Mike created a “culture of sustainability” at the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station. Every employee was empowered to find ways to decrease costs and greenhouse gas emissions and ensure the well-being of staff. The benefits derived from this change in culture were inspiring.

Addressing the greatest challenge of our time — climate change — has been Mike’s focus for many years. He dedicates all his time to this grand challenge and often helps people understand and appreciate what is happening through food. He tells the climate change story with passion, a little humor, and without doom and gloom. It’s a science-based message about what is happening and what we all can do about. He is the lead author of Our changing menu: Climate change and the foods we love and need (Cornell University Press 2021) and associated website – Our changing menu.

August 18 @ 12:30 pm Week Eight (August 15–22)

CHQ Mystic Heart - Larry Terkel, Judaism/ Kabbalah Meditation, seminar and practice

Hall of Missions

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CHQ Mystic Heart – Larry Terkel, Judaism/ Kabbalah Meditation, seminar and practice

Tuesday, August 18th 2026 @ 12:30 pm

Hall of Missions

How To Access This Event Gate Pass Holder

A single ticket purchase is required for this event.

Single Tickets

Price: free

Online

There is no online version of this program.

CHQ Mystic Heart – Larry Terkel, Judaism/ Kabbalah Meditation, seminar and practice

Larry Terkel, along with his wife Susan, founded The Spiritual Life Society, an inter-denominational center for spiritual and holistic studies, where he teaches yoga and meditation and gives weekly talks. As its licensed minister, Larry has officiated at over 2,000 weddings for couples of all faiths. He is also the founder of Temple Beth Shalom, in Hudson, Ohio. Larry and Susan are co-authors of the book, Small Change: It’s the LITTLE Things in Life That Make a BIG Difference! (Tarcher/Penguin) a finalist for the 2004 National Books for a Better Life Award.

Department of Religion

August 18 @ 12:30 pm

CHQ Dialogues

Presbyterian House

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Demo_08XX17_Cheeseburger-Challenge_mpo_03

August 18 @ 12:45 pm Week Eight (August 15–22)

Bestor Plaza Demo/Talk: Making Mozza Ball Soup with Zalman Vilenkin

Bestor Plaza

View Details

Tuesday, August 18th 2026 @ 12:45 pm

Bestor Plaza

How To Access This Event Gate Pass Holder

Access to this event is included with the Gate Pass.

Single Tickets

Price: Gate pass or single ticket required

Online

There is no online version of this program.

Bestor Plaza Demo/Talk: Making Mozza Ball Soup with Zalman Vilenkin

Big flavor meets big ideas in Bestor Plaza. Enjoy a dynamic lineup of live culinary demonstrations and discussions featuring chefs, artisans, and community partners from across the region and beyond. These engaging sessions spotlight innovative techniques, cultural traditions, sustainability practices, and the stories behind the food we love.

Held daily during the Taste Caravan, each demonstration or talk runs from approximately 1:00–1:45 p.m. and offers guests the chance to learn, ask questions, and connect directly with experts—all while enjoying small bites from the surrounding food vendors.

Featured topics will include a discussion on innovative approaches to tackling food insecurity with 412 Food Rescue, the cultural significance of matzo ball soup and challah bread—with hands on challah braiding guests can take home—live fish breakdowns showcase the preparation process for both restaurant and home chefs, and much more. Programming will showcase something new each day, highlighting regional chefs, culinary professionals, and community organizations.

All demonstrations and talks are free to watch and designed to complement the vibrant flavors and energy of the Taste Caravan, making them the perfect midday stop for inspiration, learning, and delicious discovery.

August 18 @ 1:00 pm

English Lawn Bowling Tips

Sports Club, Lawn Bowling Green

View Details

August 18 @ 2:00 pm Week Eight (August 15–22)

Derrick Weston

Hall of Philosophy | CHQ Assembly

$20 View Details

Tuesday, August 18th 2026 @ 2:00 pm

Hall of Philosophy &

Online

How To Access This Event Gate Pass Holder

Access to this event is included with the Gate Pass.

Single Tickets

Price: $20

Purchase Single Tickets Online

View this event on Chautauqua Institution's YouTube paid membership channel.

Register/Sign-up

Derrick Weston

Derrick Weston is the Director of Theological Education and Formation, Creation Justice Ministries. Derrick is a writer, filmmaker, podcaster, speaker and educator whose most recent work has focused on the intersection of food and faith. He is the co-host of the “Food and Faith” podcast and producer of “Spoon, Spade, and Soul,” a podcast highlighting food and land-based ministries in the Episcopal church. Additionally, he is the producer of the short film series “A Wilderness Like Eden” highlighting the work of churches engaged in food justice work.

Derrick is co-author of the book The Just Kitchen: Invitations to Sustainability, Cooking, Connection, and Celebration.

After two decades of being a pastor and community organizer, Weston is a strong believer in the potential of local congregations to enact change in their communities. Weston received his B.A. in film studies from the University of Pittsburgh and his Master of Divinity from San Francisco Theological Seminary. He also has a certification in health ministry from Wesleyan Theological Seminary and was a part of the Re:Generate fellowship on food, faith, and ecology though Wake Forest Divinity School.

This program is made possible by Week Eight Presenting Sponsor Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, AHN Westfield Memorial, and HealthNow Administrative Services. This program is also made possible by the generous support of The Myra Baker Low and Katharine Low Hembree Family Fund.

August 18 @ 3:15 pm Week Eight (August 15–22)

Masters Series Masterclass: Good Food Belongs to People, Not a Landfill

Hultquist 101

$99 View Details

Masters Series Masterclass: Good Food Belongs to People, Not a Landfill

Tuesday, August 18th 2026 @ 3:15 pm

Hultquist 101

How To Access This Event Online

Learn more and register for this class.

Register/Sign-up

Masters Series Masterclass: Good Food Belongs to People, Not a Landfill

At the intersection of food insecurity and climate change lies one powerful opportunity: food rescue. Food waste and food insecurity are often treated as separate crises — yet they stem from the same structural inefficiencies in our food system. In the United States, up to 40% of food produced goes uneaten, even as 1 in 7 households face food insecurity. Most wasted food ends up in landfills, where it becomes a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. 412 Food Rescue in Pittsburgh is transforming how communities respond to these challenges. By mobilizing volunteers through innovative, people-powered technology, the organization rescues fresh, nutritious food that would otherwise go to waste and delivers it directly to neighbors experiencing food insecurity. In this way, the organization operates at the intersection of food waste and environmental sustainability, redirecting surplus food to communities experiencing food insecurity while reducing landfill methane emissions. In this session, leadership from 412 Food Rescue will examine how technology-enabled logistics, volunteer mobilization, and cross-sector partnerships can serve as civic infrastructure — addressing hunger, advancing environmental sustainability, and strengthening local food systems. Participants will explore how surplus food recovery functions not as charity, but as systems-level intervention in both public health and climate resilience that has national and global impact.

August 18 @ 3:30 pm Week Eight (August 15–22)

CHQ Dialogues

Everett Jewish Life Center

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August 18 @ 4:00 pm Week Eight (August 15–22)

Generational Voices Masterclass with Kevin Short

Fletcher Music Hall

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August 18 @ 4:30 pm Week Eight (August 15–22)

Taste Caravan

Bestor Plaza

View Details

Tuesday, August 18th 2026 @ 4:30 pm

Bestor Plaza

How To Access This Event Gate Pass Holder

Access to this event is included with the Gate Pass.

Single Tickets

Price: Gate pass or single ticket required

Online

There is no online version of this program.

Taste Caravan

A moving feast of regional flavor. Taste Caravan transforms Bestor Plaza into a rotating showcase of the area’s most exciting restaurants and food trucks, offering guests the opportunity to sample 15–20 different regional establishments each week through thoughtfully prepared small bites.

Food trucks will be available:

Monday–Friday, 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (Lunch)

Tuesday & Friday, 4:30–8:00 p.m. (Dinner)

Vendors rotate throughout the week, and all offer small bites so guests are encouraged to return often so they can explore the wide range of cuisines, cooking styles, flavors and culinary voices—all in one vibrant, walkable destination located just outside the Amphitheater in Bestor Plaza.

During each Taste Caravan lunch service, guests can enjoy a live culinary demonstration or discussion in the plaza, creating an immersive experience where learning, conversation, and flavor come together. Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite or lingering to sample multiple offerings, Taste Caravan invites you to taste broadly, learn deeply, and celebrate the diversity of our regional food community.

Food/Drink Tickets:

All food vendors only accept Food Festival tickets for payment. The Athenaeum Hotel Beverage Tent & Lounge will accept tickets, cash or card. Tickets can be purchased from one of the two information and ticket tents located within steps of the food vendors.

5 Pack of Tickets: $10

Food Vendor’s
Venus Greek and Mediterranean
Best of Buffalo by Byron
Over the Rainbow
U Take The Cake
Franklins Honey and Apples, Kettle Corn
Kosher Tent
Charcuterie By Carrie
Mystic Smoke BBQ

August 18 @ 5:30 pm Week Eight (August 15–22)

Premium Chefs Dinner: Nyesha Arrington

Athenaeum Hotel

$180 View Details

Tuesday, August 18th 2026 @ 5:30 pm

Athenaeum Hotel

How To Access This Event Gate Pass Holder

A single ticket purchase is required for this event.

Single Tickets

Price: $180

Sorry, this event is sold out.

Online

There is no online version of this program.

Premium Chefs Dinner: Nyesha Arrington

Guest Chef Dinner: Nyesha Arrington

5:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 18, 2026 | Athenaeum Hotel

Join acclaimed chef and television personality Nyesha Arrington for an unforgettable evening of elevated dining at the historic Athenaeum Hotel. This exclusive Guest Chef Dinner offers an intimate opportunity to experience Arrington’s soulful, seasonally driven cuisine through a thoughtfully curated multicourse tasting menu. The experience caps Arrington’s multiday Chautauqua Food Festival residency, which also includes a mainstage Chautauqua Lecture Series appearance Tuesday morning, and a special Masters Series Cooking Demonstration on Sunday, Aug. 16.

Arrington brings her signature blend of refined technique, creativity and storytelling to the table. Drawing inspiration from seasonal ingredients, global travel and contemporary art, her cooking is a distinctly personal expression delivering “Food that Hugs the Soul.”

The evening begins with passed hors d’oeuvres, followed by seated dining as each course unfolds as part of a cohesive culinary narrative. Guests will enjoy an immersive dining experience that highlights Arrington’s approach to flavor, intention and connection, all set within one of Chautauqua’s most iconic settings.

This Guest Chef Dinner is designed for passionate food lovers seeking a memorable night of discovery, conversation and exceptional cuisine.

Please note:

The menu for all courses is determined by the visiting chef; specific dietary restrictions may not be accounted for in the menu design. The final menu will be added to the website at a later date.

A wine pairing will be available on the night of the event for an additional fee.

August 18 @ 6:00 pm Week Eight (August 15–22)

MARY OLIVER: SAVED BY THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD

Chautauqua Cinema

$11 – $15 View Details

August 18 @ 8:00 pm Week Eight (August 15–22)

Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra with Maxim Lando, piano

Amphitheater

$55 – $65 View Details

Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra with Maxim Lando, piano

Tuesday, August 18th 2026 @ 8:00 pm

Amphitheater

How To Access This Event Gate Pass Holder

Access to this event is included with the Gate Pass.

Single Tickets

Price: $55 – $65

Purchase Single Tickets Online

There is no online version of this program.

Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra with Maxim Lando, piano

Rossen Milanov, conductor

Maxim Lando, piano

Maxim Lando joins the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra in an evening of rhythmic fire. Lando commands the Amphitheater stage in Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3, balancing bold modern energy with moments of lyrical warmth. Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances offers nostalgia and momentum, with the widely recognized Dies Ire making its looming presence. Together, these works bring passion and power to the orchestra.

Program:
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances

This program is made possible by Week Eight Presenting Sponsor Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, AHN Westfield Memorial, and HealthNow Administrative Services. This program is also made possible by The Reinberger Fund for the Performing Arts and The Heitzenrater Family Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra Fund.

August 18 @ 8:30 pm Week Eight (August 15–22)

I SWEAR

Chautauqua Cinema

$ View Details

August 18 @ 10:00 pm Week Eight (August 15–22)

Sally Love & Friends: Sleep is the New Sex

Roe Green Theater Center

$25 View Details

August 19 @ 6:15 am

Sunrise Paddle - Kayak/SUP

Sports Club, Waterfront

View Details

August 19 @ 7:45 am Week Eight (August 15–22)

CHQ Mystic Heart - Larry Terkel, Judaism/ Kabbalah Meditation

Presbyterian House

View Details

August 19 @ 8:30 am Week Eight (August 15–22)

Movement and Meditation with Monte Thompson

Hall of Philosophy Grove

View Details

August 19 @ 9:15 am

The Rev. Natalie Hanson

Amphitheater | CHQ Assembly

View Details

Wednesday, August 19th 2026 @ 9:15 am

Amphitheater &

Online

How To Access This Event Gate Pass Holder

Access to this event is included with the Gate Pass.

Single Tickets

Price: free

Online

View this event on Chautauqua Institution's YouTube paid membership channel.

Register/Sign-up

The Rev. Natalie Hanson

The Rev. Natalie Hanson has been a longtime presence at Chautauqua; with her husband, the Rev. James Paul Womack, pastor of Hurlbut Memorial Community United Methodist Church, she has co-hosted the United Methodist Missionary Vacation Home at Chautauqua for several years. Hanson has also served Chautauqua as interim senior pastor in 2022, crafting, planning and evaluating worship services alongside members of the Department of Religion.

She is a clergy member of the United Methodist Church, now retired after 40 years of ministry. Much of that ministry was focused in urban parishes, with eight years serving as a District Superintendent in the Western, then Upper New York Annual Conference. On behalf of the Conference and as an adjunct for Wesley Seminary’s Course of Study, Hanson for several years taught classes on preaching and worship development. She was also Co-Convener and worship developer for the NE Jurisdiction’s Clergywomen’s Convocation. Hanson was educated at Wesleyan University and the Harvard Divinity School.

This program is made possible by Week One Presenting Sponsor Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, AHN Westfield Memorial, and HealthNow Administrative Services. This program is also made possible by the generous support of The Samuel M. and Mary E. Hazlett Memorial Fund.

August 19 @ 10:15 am

Service of Blessing and Healing

Randell Chapel, UCC Headquarters

View Details

August 19 @ 10:45 am Week Eight (August 15–22)

Brian Frank

Amphitheater | CHQ Assembly

$40 View Details

Wednesday, August 19th 2026 @ 10:45 am

Amphitheater &

Online

How To Access This Event Gate Pass Holder

Access to this event is included with the Gate Pass.

Single Tickets

Price: $40

Purchase Single Tickets Online

View this event on Chautauqua Institution's YouTube paid membership channel.

Register/Sign-up

Brian Frank

Brian Frank is the founder and general partner of FTW Ventures, bringing decades of experience in building transformative technology that impacts the way people work, play and live. In 2015, Frank turned his attention to how technology can improve the lives of every person on the planet by building a better food system. He raised two early-stage funds for investments into food and agriculture technology businesses with FTW, partnering with the leading executives and corporations in the field.

Now at FTW, Frank continues to build a more sustainable, resilient, productive and profitable food system through leveraging advanced science and technology in the $10 trillion food and agriculture sectors. He cultivates urgent, essential technology that reshapes the global food and agriculture industries. To support the company’s three core values — preserving and amplifying nature’s offerings, modernizing science, and nurturing humankind — Frank and his team support the innovators who think beyond the box and have a unique perspective on improving the food system.

Prior to founding FTW, Frank led the creation of industry-defining products in mobile communication, social media and AI at numerous startups and Fortune 500 Companies over his 25-year career. As an entrepreneur, he directed three venture-backed businesses to successful exits, returning more than $100 million in capital to investors. Frank is a graduate of Cornell University with dual degrees in computer science as well as science and technology studies with a concentration in human-computer interaction (HCI).

This program is made possible by Week Eight Presenting Sponsor Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, AHN Westfield Memorial, and HealthNow Administrative Services. This program is also sponsored by The Reginald and Elizabeth Lenna Lectureship in Business and Economics and The Joseph H. DeFrees Memorial Lecture. Our Food Festival Events today are presented by Alexander Construction.

August 19 @ 11:30 am Week Eight (August 15–22)

Taste Caravan

Bestor Plaza

View Details

Wednesday, August 19th 2026 @ 11:30 am

Bestor Plaza

How To Access This Event Gate Pass Holder

Access to this event is included with the Gate Pass.

Single Tickets

Price: Gate pass or single ticket required

Online

There is no online version of this program.

Taste Caravan

A moving feast of regional flavor. Taste Caravan transforms Bestor Plaza into a rotating showcase of the area’s most exciting restaurants and food trucks, offering guests the opportunity to sample 15–20 different regional establishments each week through thoughtfully prepared small bites.

Food trucks will be available:

Monday–Friday, 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (Lunch)

Tuesday & Friday, 4:30–8:00 p.m. (Dinner)

Vendors rotate throughout the week, and all offer small bites so guests are encouraged to return often so they can explore the wide range of cuisines, cooking styles, flavors and culinary voices—all in one vibrant, walkable destination located just outside the Amphitheater in Bestor Plaza.

During each Taste Caravan lunch service, guests can enjoy a live culinary demonstration or discussion in the plaza, creating an immersive experience where learning, conversation, and flavor come together. Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite or lingering to sample multiple offerings, Taste Caravan invites you to taste broadly, learn deeply, and celebrate the diversity of our regional food community.

Food/Drink Tickets:

All food vendors only accept Food Festival tickets for payment. The Athenaeum Hotel Beverage Tent & Lounge will accept tickets, cash or card. Tickets can be purchased from one of the two information and ticket tents located within steps of the food vendors.

5 Pack of Tickets: $10

Food Vendor’s

Venus Greek and Mediterranean
Best of Buffalo by Byron
Over the Rainbow
Franklins Honey and Apples, Kettle Corn
Kosher Tent
Mystic Smoke BBQ
Chachys lemonades
Merritt Estate Winery- Slush bus

August 19 @ 12:15 pm Week Eight (August 15–22)

Women In Ministry

Hall of Missions

View Details

August 19 @ 12:30 pm Week Eight (August 15–22)

Designing Civic Infrastructure for a Circular Food Economy: Panel Discussion

Bestor Plaza

View Details

Designing Civic Infrastructure for a Circular Food Economy: Panel Discussion

Wednesday, August 19th 2026 @ 12:30 pm

Bestor Plaza

How To Access This Event Gate Pass Holder

Access to this event is included with the Gate Pass.

Single Tickets

Price: Gate pass or single ticket required

Online

There is no online version of this program.

Designing Civic Infrastructure for a Circular Food Economy: Panel Discussion

Big flavor meets big ideas in Bestor Plaza. Enjoy a dynamic lineup of live culinary demonstrations and discussions featuring chefs, artisans, and community partners from across the region and beyond. These engaging sessions spotlight innovative techniques, cultural traditions, sustainability practices, and the stories behind the food we love.

Held daily during the Taste Caravan, each demonstration or talk runs from approximately 1:00–1:45 p.m. and offers guests the chance to learn, ask questions, and connect directly with experts—all while enjoying small bites from the surrounding food vendors.

Featured topics will include a discussion on innovative approaches to tackling food insecurity with 412 Food Rescue, the cultural significance of matzo ball soup and challah bread—with hands on challah braiding guests can take home—live fish breakdowns showcase the preparation process for both restaurant and home chefs, and much more. Programming will showcase something new each day, highlighting regional chefs, culinary professionals, and community organizations.

All demonstrations and talks are free to watch and designed to complement the vibrant flavors and energy of the Taste Caravan, making them the perfect midday stop for inspiration, learning, and delicious discovery.

August 19 @ 12:30 pm Week Eight (August 15–22)

CHQ Dialogues

Presbyterian House

View Details

August 19 @ 12:45 pm

Guided Kayak Historic Tour

Sports Club, Waterfront

View Details

August 19 @ 1:00 pm

English Lawn Bowling Tips

Sports Club, Lawn Bowling Green

View Details

August 19 @ 2:00 pm Week Eight (August 15–22)

Karen Florini

Hall of Philosophy | CHQ Assembly

$20 View Details

Wednesday, August 19th 2026 @ 2:00 pm

Hall of Philosophy &

Online

How To Access This Event Gate Pass Holder

Access to this event is included with the Gate Pass.

Single Tickets

Price: $20

Purchase Single Tickets Online

View this event on Chautauqua Institution's YouTube paid membership channel.

Register/Sign-up

Karen Florini

Karen Florini title of her talk is “Sheep May Safely Graze: Ruminations on Food and Climate Change”. Karen is a strategic advisor with C-Change Conversations, which educate audiences throughout the country about how climate change will impact them personally, why there is urgency to address it and how to forge consensus for action. She also serves as a senior fellow with the Climate Democracy Initiative.

Previously, she held multiple leadership roles at Climate Central, a non-profit climate science research and communication organization that creates highly localized information on climate impacts and solutions. In 2024 with the Council on Foreign Relations, Florini completed a residency at the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center for her project on Disenfranchised by Climate Change, which examines impacts of extreme weather on electoral processes around the globe.

Prior to joining Climate Central in 2017, Florini served as deputy special envoy for climate change at the State Department for the final two years of the Obama Administration. She led the Department’s engagement with businesses, state and local governments, and civil society in the climate negotiations context. She also headed the State Department’s portfolio on short-lived climate pollutants such as methane and black carbon. Previously, she spent more than two decades at the Environmental Defense Fund, working both on environmental health and climate change.

She earned a J.D. at Harvard, where she was editor-in-chief of the Harvard Environmental Law Review.

This program is made possible by Week Eight Presenting Sponsor Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, AHN Westfield Memorial, and HealthNow Administrative Services. This program is also made possible by the generous support of The Mackenzie Fund for Chautauqua

August 19 @ 3:00 pm Week Eight (August 15–22)

Taste of Chautauqua Featuring Mike Thornton & The Midnight Quartet

Bestor Plaza

$35 View Details

Taste of Chautauqua Featuring Mike Thornton & The Midnight Quartet

Wednesday, August 19th 2026 @ 3:00 pm

Bestor Plaza

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Single Tickets

Price: $35

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Taste of Chautauqua Featuring Mike Thornton & The Midnight Quartet

A celebration of food, art, music, and family. Taste of Chautauqua invites guests to experience the spirit of the region through an afternoon that brings together regional cuisine, craft beverages, live music, and local art—all in the heart of Bestor Plaza.

Designed for guests of all ages, this vibrant community gathering showcases the incredible culinary and creative talent of Chautauqua County. Sample small bites from a variety of local restaurants, explore and purchase products from area food manufacturers, wineries, distilleries, and breweries, and browse work from local artists sharing their craft and creativity. Live local music sets the tone, creating a relaxed, joyful atmosphere where flavor and culture come together.

Taste of Chautauqua is an opportunity to taste broadly, meet the makers, and celebrate the people and products that define our region. Whether you’re discovering a new favorite restaurant, supporting local producers, or simply enjoying an afternoon with family and friends, this event captures the heart of the community in one joyful celebration.

Featuring the band Mike Thornton & The Midnight Quartet

Vendors Include:

Stella’s a Bar and Grill
Charcuterie By Carrie
Andriaccios Resturant
The White Inn
Portage Pie
Borsari Food Company
The Basket Company
Splash Dash and Drizzle
Blue Dragonfly Designs
Pearl City Clay House
Chautauqua Art Gallery
21 Brix
Johnson Estates
Sparkling Ponds Winery
Mazza Winery
Merritt Estate Winery
Southern Tier Brewery
Southern Tier Distillery

August 19 @ 3:00 pm Week Eight (August 15–22)

I SWEAR

Chautauqua Cinema

$ View Details

August 19 @ 3:15 pm Week Eight (August 15–22)

Masters Series Masterclass: Good Food Belongs to People, Not a Landfill

Hultquist 101

$99 View Details

Wednesday, August 19th 2026 @ 3:15 pm

Hultquist 101

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Masters Series Masterclass: Good Food Belongs to People, Not a Landfill

At the intersection of food insecurity and climate change lies one powerful opportunity: food rescue. Food waste and food insecurity are often treated as separate crises — yet they stem from the same structural inefficiencies in our food system. In the United States, up to 40% of food produced goes uneaten, even as 1 in 7 households face food insecurity. Most wasted food ends up in landfills, where it becomes a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. 412 Food Rescue in Pittsburgh is transforming how communities respond to these challenges. By mobilizing volunteers through innovative, people-powered technology, the organization rescues fresh, nutritious food that would otherwise go to waste and delivers it directly to neighbors experiencing food insecurity. In this way, the organization operates at the intersection of food waste and environmental sustainability, redirecting surplus food to communities experiencing food insecurity while reducing landfill methane emissions. In this session, leadership from 412 Food Rescue will examine how technology-enabled logistics, volunteer mobilization, and cross-sector partnerships can serve as civic infrastructure — addressing hunger, advancing environmental sustainability, and strengthening local food systems. Participants will explore how surplus food recovery functions not as charity, but as systems-level intervention in both public health and climate resilience that has national and global impact.

August 19 @ 3:30 pm

UU Cultural Ethics Series: Roger Doebke

Hall of Philosophy

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Wednesday, August 19th 2026 @ 3:30 pm

Hall of Philosophy

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UU Cultural Ethics Series: Roger Doebke

“CERTAINTY IS NOT A VIRTUE”

Roger Doebke holds an MA in Religion from Meadville Lombard Theological School and is the immediate past president of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Chautauqua, a position he held for many years. In addition to leading the everyday activities of the UU Fellowship, his warm and inviting ministerial presence at its weekly services provided a continuing inspirational and nondogmatic Sunday experience for members and visitors.

Roger is a devoted Chautauquan who has worked tirelessly on outreach and interfaith efforts for both the Fellowship and the wider institution. He has collaborated closely with community-group leaders and administrators across Chautauqua. For example, he co-founded the Chautauqua Dialogues with Lynn Stahl and others. The Dialogues have become an important forum for communication at Chautauqua. As Amit Taneja wrote in a Daily article about the Dialogues, “The principles of dialogues stand in contrast to debate. They call us to listen deeply, to find strengths in other people’s arguments, to ask genuinely curious questions, and to seek commonalities amongst differences. The goal is not to win the argument, but to seek common ground.”

Roger also worked closely over the years with Maureen Rovegno and other members of the Department of Religion inviting prominent interfaith speakers and furthering interfaith programs. The Cultural Ethics Series is one of these programs. Having him as the final speaker of this year’s series is wonderfully appropriate.

August 19 @ 3:30 pm

CHQ Dialogues

Catholic House

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August 19 @ 4:45 pm Week Eight (August 15–22)

CHQ Mystic Heart - Therapeutic Gong Meditation with Kim Hehr

Hall of Christ: Sanctuary

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CHQ Mystic Heart – Therapeutic Gong Meditation with Kim Hehr

Wednesday, August 19th 2026 @ 4:45 pm

Hall of Christ: Sanctuary

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Price: free

Online

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CHQ Mystic Heart – Therapeutic Gong Meditation with Kim Hehr

Kim Hehr is a lifelong Chautauquan and a certified level 2 teacher of Kundalini Yoga and Meditation. She has been a yoga and meditation practitioner for 30 years and has been teaching Kundalini Yoga and Meditation for 25 years. A retired hospice nurse, she is presently the coordinator of the CHQ Mystic Heart Meditation Program. Kim specializes in healing addictive patterns through yogic technology. Passionate about teaching meditation, performing Gong Baths, and pranayama (breath work), her objective is to help others with their anxiety and everyday stress. Her goal is to facilitate bringing more peace and self-acceptance into people’s lives.

Department of Religion

August 19 @ 6:00 pm Week Eight (August 15–22)

MARY OLIVER: SAVED BY THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD

Chautauqua Cinema

$11 – $15 View Details

August 19 @ 6:30 pm

CHQ Dialogues

Lutheran House

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August 19 @ 8:00 pm Week Eight (August 15–22)

Preacher Lawson

Amphitheater

$55 – $75 View Details

Wednesday, August 19th 2026 @ 8:00 pm

Amphitheater

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Preacher Lawson

Preacher Lawson is a stand-up comedian, actor, and creator known for his high-energy storytelling and physical, joy-driven comedy. He first gained national attention as a finalist on America’s Got Talent and has since built a global fanbase through touring, social media, and multiple comedy specials. Preacher headlines clubs and theaters across the world, selling out shows with material that blends sharp observations, family stories, and fearless honesty.

Raised in a military family and shaped by life on the move, Preacher’s comedy centers on resilience, relationships, and finding humor in chaos. Beyond stand-up, he creates digital content, develops film and TV projects, and collaborates with other comedians and creators. His work has been featured on NBC, Netflix Is a Joke, and major comedy festivals, and his independently released specials have reached millions online.

With a loyal audience and an unmistakable stage presence, Preacher continues to expand from stand-up into storytelling across film, documentary, and unscripted projects—most recently chronicling life on the road with his family in his first documentary feature.

This program is made possible by Week Eight Presenting Sponsor Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, AHN Westfield Memorial, and HealthNow Administrative Services. This program is also sponsored by The Mark Russell and Alison Kaplan Russell Endowment for Comedy.

August 19 @ 8:30 pm Week Eight (August 15–22)

I SWEAR

Chautauqua Cinema

$ View Details

August 20 @ 7:45 am Week Eight (August 15–22)

CHQ Mystic Heart - Larry Terkel, Judaism/ Kabbalah Meditation

Presbyterian House

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August 20 @ 9:15 am

The Rev. Natalie Hanson

Hall of Philosophy | CHQ Assembly

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Thursday, August 20th 2026 @ 9:15 am

Hall of Philosophy &

Online

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The Rev. Natalie Hanson

The Rev. Natalie Hanson has been a longtime presence at Chautauqua; with her husband, the Rev. James Paul Womack, pastor of Hurlbut Memorial Community United Methodist Church, she has co-hosted the United Methodist Missionary Vacation Home at Chautauqua for several years. Hanson has also served Chautauqua as interim senior pastor in 2022, crafting, planning and evaluating worship services alongside members of the Department of Religion.

She is a clergy member of the United Methodist Church, now retired after 40 years of ministry. Much of that ministry was focused in urban parishes, with eight years serving as a District Superintendent in the Western, then Upper New York Annual Conference. On behalf of the Conference and as an adjunct for Wesley Seminary’s Course of Study, Hanson for several years taught classes on preaching and worship development. She was also Co-Convener and worship developer for the NE Jurisdiction’s Clergywomen’s Convocation. Hanson was educated at Wesleyan University and the Harvard Divinity School.

This program is made possible by Week One Presenting Sponsor Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, AHN Westfield Memorial, and HealthNow Administrative Services. This program is also made possible by the generous support of The Samuel M. and Mary E. Hazlett Memorial Fund.

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English Lawn Bowling Tips

This is a free event.

Week Eight: Reimagined Food Festival

This is a free event.

CHQ Mystic Heart – Larry Terkel, Judaism/ Kabbalah Meditation

This is a free event.

The Rev. Natalie Hanson

This is a free event.

Chautauqua Science Group: George Carlo

This is a free event.

Service of Blessing and Healing

This is a free event.

Nyesha Arrington

This is a free event.

Taste Caravan

This is a free event.

Food: The Ultimate Climate Change Messenger Michael Hoffman, Cornell University

This is a free event.

CHQ Mystic Heart – Larry Terkel, Judaism/ Kabbalah Meditation, seminar and practice

This is a free event.

CHQ Dialogues

This is a free event.

Bestor Plaza Demo/Talk: Making Mozza Ball Soup with Zalman Vilenkin

This is a free event.

English Lawn Bowling Tips

This is a free event.

Derrick Weston

This is a free event.

Masters Series Masterclass: Good Food Belongs to People, Not a Landfill

This is a free event.

CHQ Dialogues

This is a free event.

Generational Voices Masterclass with Kevin Short

This is a free event.

Taste Caravan

This is a free event.

Premium Chefs Dinner: Nyesha Arrington

This is a free event.

MARY OLIVER: SAVED BY THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD

This is a free event.

Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra with Maxim Lando, piano

This is a free event.

I SWEAR

This is a free event.

Sally Love & Friends: Sleep is the New Sex

This is a free event.

Sunrise Paddle – Kayak/SUP

This is a free event.

CHQ Mystic Heart – Larry Terkel, Judaism/ Kabbalah Meditation

This is a free event.

Movement and Meditation with Monte Thompson

This is a free event.

The Rev. Natalie Hanson

This is a free event.

Service of Blessing and Healing

This is a free event.

Brian Frank

This is a free event.

Taste Caravan

This is a free event.

Women In Ministry

This is a free event.

Designing Civic Infrastructure for a Circular Food Economy: Panel Discussion

This is a free event.

CHQ Dialogues

This is a free event.

Guided Kayak Historic Tour

This is a free event.

English Lawn Bowling Tips

This is a free event.

Karen Florini